Introduction

Conversations about advance care planning are taking place in homes and communities throughout our region. We invite you to join us in helping individuals of all ages to better understand how advance care planning practices can improve care. Having these conversations can help to address some of the issues that may arise if you are ever unable to consent to or refuse treatment or other carespa.

Since new personal planning legislation came into effect in our province in 2011, there are a number of new resources that are available to assist community members aged 19 and over to start the conversation about advance care planning. This web site provides a number of tools that individuals and their families can use to help guide them in having the conversation and developing a personal advance care plan that is appropriate for you.

“New incapacity (or personal) planning legislation came into force in B.C. on September 1, 2011 providing adults with more options for expressing their wishes about future health care decisions. The legislation allows capable adults to put plans into place that outline the health care treatments they consent to or refuse based on their beliefs, values and wishes. If no decision/plan is in place, B.C.’s health care consent legislation gives regulated health care providers specific direction regarding who they must choose to make decisions on a person’s behalf.”

You may never need your advance care plan but, if you do, you’ll be glad that it is there and that you have had these conversations. Through your advance care plan you can make sure that your voice is heard when you can not speak for yourself. An advance care plan is a gift to you and your loved ones helping to guide them and your health care providers when you need it most.

These plans are meant to be ‘living documents’ enabling individuals to regularly review and make changes whenever you feel it is necessary.

The province of British Columbia and the BC Ministry of Health, in partnership with Fraser Health and a number of regional health authorities and health care providers, developed and published a resource for British Columbians to help with advance care planning.